Arkansas Toothpick

[Crex]

This is one for the tight places.


The handle and sheath are fossil mastodon. The fittings are silver. The blade is re-forged pattern welded steel.
Blade length is 1 1/8".
Throws pretty good too!

[Deck H]

Well Done !!

[mike koller]

WICKED!!!

[DiamondG Knives]

Well Done! Well done indeed!
I love the sheath!

Keep up the good work!

Mike

[Sandy Morrissey]

Carl. will I have the pleasure of seeing this beauty on the 9th at Pop's hammer/in? Sandy

[Crex]

Thanks Guys,
As always the pleasure is all mine. I'm just glad there's others out there that can appreciate what it takes to make one.

Sandy - I'm planning on attending unless something major comes up. Trying to talk a non-maker friend to come with me. Grandson would love it if it wasn't such a long drive (he can't quite handle an all-day trip unless it involves getting wet in a trout stream).
Look forward to seeing you there. Got some pics and stories to share. Should a knocked that gator in the head while I had him on my line!
Carl Rx

[whv]

as usual, carl, a beauty. but

Throws pretty good too

you've got more nerve than i have throwing an ivory handled knife (or maybe you're that much better at that i
)

[Crex]

WHV,
Couldn't help myself. Besides I've got a foam padded floor and a large chunk of heavy foam insulation. It's not that big so I don't have to throw it very far proportionally speaking.
Actually my wife thought I was nuts too!
But hey, you know, a craving is a craving!

Carl Rx

[Gene]

Hey guys - what's goin' on!

Obviously y'all can see Crex's Arkansas toothpick photo, but it doesn't show up for me!

What's wrong?

My computer picks up all the rest of the photos on the forum, but I can't see this one picture!

And I'm getting ready to make a large Arkansas Toothpick, and would like to look at as many samples as I can.

Help, please?

And Merry Christmas!

Gene

[Tom Militano]

Don't feel bad Gene, I can't see it either, but I'd like to.

[Gene]

Hi Tom -

This is REALLY strange: I decided I would like to make a large Arkansas Toothpick, because I've heard of them all my life, and thought it would make an interesting piece for my oldest son who is big in Confederate re-inacting.

So I searched CKD for some examples, AND COULD NOT FIND A SINGLE ONE - except a small Italian kit knife.

So I searched the internet for HOURS, and only found ONE authentic example an Arkansas Toothpick!

Of course there are a lot of cheap junk bowies which are being sold in Canada and Europe, under the name of Arkansas Toothpick, but they are nothing more than small Bowies.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS I CAN FIND ONLY ONE AUTHENTIC ARKANSAS TOOTHPICK ANYWHERE ON THE NET! I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A HUNDRED OF THEM - AT LEAST!

This is the only one I could find, and I hope this picture shows up, I'm not too swift about this posting photos yet:



Can anyone tell me where I can see more photos or drawings of AUTHENTIC Arkansas Toothpicks?

Merry Christmas!

Gene

[Chuck Burrows]

Yahoo strikes again! Tried copying and pasting the page into my browser and no go.

Gene -
Being as most of my work is 18th/19th century influenced I have done a ton of research on the subject of period knives. What I have turned up is that for all intents and purposes the term Arkansas Toothpick is sort of a generic name ala Bowie (during that time almost any large knife, including spear points and not just clip points were often called Bowies). The knife that has come to be known as an Arkansas Toothpick would be similar to that pictures. A sharply tapered, double edged blade.
A couple of reference books on knives of this era are:

"American Knives, The First History & Collectors' Guide" by Peterson

"The Knife in Homespun America and Related Items, Its Construction and Material as Used by Woodsmen, Farmers, Soldiers, Indians and General Population", Grant/Madison

There are others but I just can't think of them right off.

Carl-if you email me the pic - and any future pics - I'll be glad to host them for you. (That way I'd get first peek!)

Happy holidays all-
Chuck

[knifeman7]

No can See!

[Gene]

Well come on, Chuck, share the wealth old buddy!

How about scanning some of your photos of GENUINE Arkansas Toothpicks, and posting them here where we can see them. Just quote your source, and you will not be guilty of any copyright infringement.

The Arkansas Toothpick - and I mean the REAL Arkansas Toothpick - was at least a fairly significant genre in American blade history, and I'm certain a lot of our brothers here would also love to see some really authentic examples.

And how about that one I posted? Would you - considering all of your research - take it to be a pretty much authentic style? And size? What about the handle and guard?

What about size and thickness and width?

Were any of them hollow ground?

Bob Engnaths web site shows one at

http://www.engnath.com/public/drwframe.htm

But the sharp edges are straight on both sides, whereas the photo I posted has curved edges. Which is authentic?

Plus Bob's is 1/4" x 11" - is that about right? I thought they were larger?

Talk to us!

Gene

[Gene]

What do you mean, Knifeman 7 - you can't see MY photo or you can't see that other guy's photo?

Gene